The Energon Pub

[Emerje]

See, this is why I keep saying Hasbro's release plans are unreasonable this year. They may be on track with no delays, but physical stores are far behind. Earthrise was supposed to launch fully in March if I remember correctly, but here we are in May and we still haven't seen full saturation on wave 1! Isn't wave 2 due hit next month or so? Physical retailers aren't going to be ready for that when they still have a glut of wave 1 to get out of their warehouses and could pass on wave 2 entirely. This is really starting to echo of Titans returns where entire waves weren't seen by most at retail. I know I still haven't seen Deluxes at retail and everything sells shortly after it's stocked, even a completely crushed box Astrotrain still seemed to sell. I can't even blame leftovers from Siege for this, I was at a local Walmart Monday and the only Siege anything (that wasn't NetFlix) on the shelves was two Shockwaves, nothing at all from ER there.

Emerje

[AcademyofDrX]

I don't think Hasbro's release plans are to blame so much as the most economically disruptive public health crisis in modern history

[Jeddostotle7]

When I posted on here I was going to pick up a Grapple, when I got to the store I totally intended to get him. However, there were only two Starscreams and like 5 Grapples. There was a bit of a debate about how many and what mix of figures in a Voyager case, but it turns out it's two - one of each.

That is actually incorrect according to the Target employee that got me my Starscream and Grapple from the back and Entertainment Earth's case listing. The wave 1 cases are 2x Grapple and 1x Starscream which matches up will with what you saw in store and any time I've seen them.

Yep, we've known for a bit that for Earthrise they changed the Voyager case size from two figures to three.

[sol magnus]

When I posted on here I was going to pick up a Grapple, when I got to the store I totally intended to get him. However, there were only two Starscreams and like 5 Grapples. There was a bit of a debate about how many and what mix of figures in a Voyager case, but it turns out it's two - one of each.

That is actually incorrect according to the Target employee that got me my Starscream and Grapple from the back and Entertainment Earth's case listing. The wave 1 cases are 2x Grapple and 1x Starscream which matches up will with what you saw in store and any time I've seen them.

Yep, we've known for a bit that for Earthrise they changed the Voyager case size from two figures to three.

Okay. Fair enough, but that actually makes Grapple seem a bit better. Especially since you can't find any that aren't at Best Buy.

So, I went to 4(!) Walmarts today looking for the Netflix Voyagers and Leader. Came up with nothing. However, there were observations. Two of the Walmarts I went to had shelves for all the price points. The other two only were carrying the Voyagers. There was no shelf space for Ultra Magnus. Of course, there were none to be found, and so I've come to some other conclusions.

The first and foremost conclusion is that whatever Hasbro intends in terms of audience for Generations toys to be, the true audience is G1 fans - I DON'T BELIEVE FOR ONE SECOND A BUNCH OF PARENTS BOUGHT OUT ALL THOSE NETFLIXFORMERS FOR LITTLE KIDS AT HOME. NOT FOR A SECOND.

I've long disbelieved the theory that moms with little kids are the primary people buying Generations toys, especially when shelves are awash with Cyberverse toys, which these supposed little kids would actually have a context for. If I wanted an entire collection of Cyberverse figures, I could have bought evcey single one of them today. We can have this argument in full later.

Secondly, we're living in the age of scalpers. I don't believe likewise to the kid thing, that it's Transformers fans running up in droves to buy out the entire selection of Netflix Transformers for their own collections. Not everyone is us - who participate in forums, go to conventions, basically live to collect Transfomers. They're a lot more...casual.

So what does that leave? The neckbeard, who has to have his AND yours, so he can sell it on ebay or trade it on some 4chan forum - or worse yet, sit on it for a year then return it to Walmart to trade for whatever's next. The armpit of collectors, who open figures to put in ones that don't match the box, sometimes don't even match the brand. And with the COVID-19 situation, it's every man for himself. If I want a Megatron, I can get it today on ebay fo a 20 dollar markup. But hey, capitalism right? Now this neckbeard business isn't the first time this has happened, and it won't be the last. But I do think we need to stop pretending it's 7-10year olds (or their parents) buying these toys.

[Skritz]

on some 4chan forum

Sorry man but I had to laugh at how 'boomer' that sound. 4chan's not a forum, its an image and text board.

[aronjlove]

Secondly, we're living in the age of scalpers.

Considering each and every single one of the Netflix figures is available on ebay, and many of the sellers have multiples of said figures, I tend to agree.

[ZeroWolf]

Hasbro themselves have said collectors are 30% of their audience... Who do you think the other 70% is? Just because you haven't seen it in your corner of the world doesn't mean it isn't true.

[Skritz]

Well, store exclusivity is always going to cause scalping I'm afraid.

[sol magnus]

on some 4chan forum

Sorry man but I had to laugh at how 'boomer' that sound. 4chan's not a forum, its an image and text board.

Reddit,then. I'm Generation X, so it might be the same difference with some of these stupid boards.

Hasbro themselves have said collectors are 30% of their audience... Who do you think the other 70% is? Just because you haven't seen it in your corner of the world doesn't mean it isn't true.

Maybe it is for the other lines. Maybe I'm being too strong with the broad strokes. But this Netflix thing? Different story. And, whether I've "seen it" or not doesn't disprove my theory. Hasbro has been wrong about their audience before. I kept my assertion to the level of opinion, not presented as fact - as I always do when it's not an actual fact. Even though the evidence strongly supports scalpers in my Netflix theory, it's not a fact because I didn't see every figure leave every store with my own eyes.

[Hellscream9999]

on some 4chan forum

Sorry man but I had to laugh at how 'boomer' that sound. 4chan's not a forum, its an image and text board.

Reddit,then. I'm Generation X, so it might be the same difference with some of these stupid boards.

Hasbro themselves have said collectors are 30% of their audience... Who do you think the other 70% is? Just because you haven't seen it in your corner of the world doesn't mean it isn't true.

Maybe it is for the other lines. Maybe I'm being too strong with the broad strokes. But this Netflix thing? Different story. And, whether I've "seen it" or not doesn't disprove my theory. Hasbro has been wrong about their audience before. I kept my assertion to the level of opinion, not presented as fact - as I always do when it's not an actual fact. Even though the evidence strongly supports scalpers in my Netflix theory, it's not a fact because I didn't see every figure leave every store with my own eyes.

have you been told that the store received any? cuz hasbro isn't currently really sending out much of anything that isn't board games (being stated as someone that runs a toy department) and beyond that walmart never really seemed to care about stocking their toy department to begin with

[aronjlove]

Soundbarrier available for pre-order on Amazon for $5.99, I just ordered one and I know many still want one: https://www.amazon.com/Tra-Gen-Battle-Master-Soundbarrier/dp/B07ZQXQ6R6

[AcademyofDrX]

If memory serves, that 30% figure is inclusive of all product lines across the brand, and not specific to Generations. I'm certain the Generations figure is higher, and probably over 50%.

[RodimusRex]

If memory serves, that 30% figure is inclusive of all product lines across the brand, and not specific to Generations. I'm certain the Generations figure is higher, and probably over 50%.

Well, Generations now includes all Bayverse figures and some Bumblebee figures.

It gets into some arbitrary distinctions. MPs used to be part of Generations but I think they left the brand. Cyber Battalion was part of Generations.

When it comes to WFC, I imagine it's more of a split. When it comes to Generations Selects, I bet us oldies dominate.

Just like how Marvel Legends Fan Channel means, "Marvel Legends: Damn, you're getting old. Buy yourself something nice that doesn't contribute to love handles or sagging arches in your feet. Now put on a Ben Folds CD and maybe think about taking up yoga or no one will look at you as an object of desire ever again. Death is coming."

[Sabrblade]

Cyber Battalion was part of Generations.

And let's also not forget that those toys were originally exclusive to Latin America.

[Emerje]

I don't think Hasbro's release plans are to blame so much as the most economically disruptive public health crisis in modern history

No kidding. The point is that Hasbro is publicly saying everything is on time and it's business as usual for them when it's painfully obvious that retail isn't even close to being prepared for another wave when the first wave is barely available. Hasbro SHOULD delay the line by a few months otherwise a large chunk of their fan base will be at risk of missing out.

Emerje

[william-james88]

If memory serves, that 30% figure is inclusive of all product lines across the brand, and not specific to Generations. I'm certain the Generations figure is higher, and probably over 50%.

Yes, 30% is all products. And the reason we see more Cyberverse is because more Cyberverse is made since that's what is more strongly marketted. And they sell well despite what some think they see. For instance, the one steps always sell out and that ultimate class BB sold like hotcakes everywhere I used to hunt.

[ZeroWolf]

Oh I won't argue Selects is geared exclusively to collectors same with Masterpiece, but it's generations that I was arguing against solely collectors/scalpers.

[sol magnus]

Oh I won't argue Selects is geared exclusively to collectors same with Masterpiece, but it's generations that I was arguing against solely collectors/scalpers.

And I should have really honed in on the Netflix figures, which is ultimately where my current ire resides.

[Counterpunch]

I'm pleased with what we got so far, Japanese-G1-in-CHUG-wise but Star Saber is still a glaring omission right now...

The MP currently scales better with CHUGs than with other MPs.

It's completely true. Star Saber in G1 was a behemoth.

[Stargrave]

Oh I won't argue Selects is geared exclusively to collectors same with Masterpiece, but it's generations that I was arguing against solely collectors/scalpers.

And I should have really honed in on the Netflix figures, which is ultimately where my current ire resides.

If it’s any consolation, any at all, the phrasing of your ire was awesome killed me.

There’s just some things only a TF collector can relate to. Like, I just had to start sorting my Siege from my Earthrise. Like when I had to start sorting my CW from my TR from my PotP. I only have so many shelves and I know you know what I mean.

[AcademyofDrX]

I hope this isn't considered off-topic, but your comment makes me really curious how Generations fans organize their collections. Product line certainly makes sense, but I've been trying to organize my figures by animated season and/or original toy release year. My current shelves are season one Decepticons (PW trilogy Insections, UW Constructicons, Siege leaders, Siege/ER seekers) and Rebirth Autobots (a ton of TR + Siege Crosshairs & Battle Masters, + PotP Punch.)

I know a lot of people seem to be jettisoning Classics for ER and Siege, but how do you mix it up if you're keeping both? For example, my TR Arcee is Headmaster Arcee, T30 Arcee is movie Arcee, but I have no idea if that changes when ER Arcee arrives.

[Sentinel_Primal]

I've probably got the weirdest shelving system overall Basically, I have 3 Studio Series shelf for Bots, Cons, and Devastator, a Lost Light shelf, UT shelf (still waiting for more info on Armada Prime though Takara), a Beast Wars shelf with show characters, two tables for the citybots and their crews, and a Cybertron shelf with most of my Siege figures and some WFC and FOC figures, in addition to a couple other shelves I've recently started organizing like Animated, Shattered Glass, and 2 more Beast Wars related shelves using non-show characters.

Any figures that don't fit somewhere in that sorting system end up in my general shelf, which has pretty much all my Prime Wars trilogy figures, a handful of custom figures/projects, and some Siege figures for characters I didn't have for that shelf, like Shockwave, Magnus, and Apeface.

I may have a slight problem considering how many shelves, but at least it's organized

[Stargrave]

My shelves in the mancave are all my G1 and Old school prized mecha I have my BW complete US release collection currently boxed up and Siege and Earthrise are duking it out with T30’s etc. for the remaining flat surfaces in the cave and house proper. I mean Omega’s perimeter is currently guarding the Mother’s Day arrangement it’s practically Cybertron up in this glitch.

It all boils down to your faves bro. I go through phases where some get put out and others get put back like holiday decorations they come out once a year for a while then back to their tubs.

[sol magnus]

Oh I won't argue Selects is geared exclusively to collectors same with Masterpiece, but it's generations that I was arguing against solely collectors/scalpers.

And I should have really honed in on the Netflix figures, which is ultimately where my current ire resides.

If it’s any consolation, any at all, the phrasing of your ire was awesome killed me.

There’s just some things only a TF collector can relate to. Like, I just had to start sorting my Siege from my Earthrise. Like when I had to start sorting my CW from my TR from my PotP. I only have so many shelves and I know you know what I mean.

It ain’t just us. Try finding the Mandalorian 3.75 inch figure in a store right now. And that’s not exclusive. I paid a 40% markup to get one, but the starting amount is not 39.73.

As to your other point, some of us are separating Siege from Siege (or trying to), to say nothing of Earthrise from Siege.

[Autobot N]

I've probably got the weirdest shelving system overall Basically, I have 3 Studio Series shelf for Bots, Cons, and Devastator, a Lost Light shelf, UT shelf (still waiting for more info on Armada Prime though Takara), a Beast Wars shelf with show characters, two tables for the citybots and their crews, and a Cybertron shelf with most of my Siege figures and some WFC and FOC figures, in addition to a couple other shelves I've recently started organizing like Animated, Shattered Glass, and 2 more Beast Wars related shelves using non-show characters.

I've got my TR s and s in their own groups, and my movie s and s all together (since there's not enough to fill a whole shelf). I've also got and shelves of random figures that don't really fit together. Siege is a bit weirder, since I group them together in small groups that I think look good; one is Optimus, Bluestreak, Sixgun, and Red Wing (who I headcanon as being a mostly -aligned freelance peacekeeping agent). Another grouping is Magnus and Ironworks, who will be joined by Arcee and Sky Lynx once they get released.